NBC's Lester Holt visits Tufts University for annual Murrow forum

The NBC Nightly News anchor talked all things media, from "fake" news and accuracy to following his career path.

By Katie Bowler / kbowler@wickedlocal.com

In a time when journalists often find themselves in the cross hairs of national debates over what's truth and what isn't, students at Tufts University had the chance to hear from one of the country's most recognizable newsmen.

Sponsored by the university’s Tisch College, Murrow Center, and Film and Media Studies program, the forum is designed to tackle issues facing the media. The forum is dedicated to Edward Murrow, a legendary CBS journalist who pioneered mass media efforts.

While introducing Holt, Julie Dobrow, co-director of film and media studies at Tufts, praised his career and his skill. The way he’s touched people across the country and the world, she said, is “remarkable.” He proves, Dobrow continued, a strong commitment to journalism is a form of public service.

Originally from California, Holt got his start as an intern at NBC in Sacramento. From there he started working at a local radio station, eventually landing a full-time position as a reporter when he started college.

“I loved being the first to know things and ... tell other people,” he said. ‘That’s the definition of what a journalist is.”

In the early 1980s Holt moved to TV broadcasting, working his way to the Today Show and eventually to his current position at NBC Nightly News. Though he wishes the time slot was a little earlier, as he’s a self-proclaimed morning person, he loves the “incredible opportunity to lay out the world for people.”

Though, he said, if he wasn’t a reporter, he’d be playing his bass at all times. But for now, his Monday night practices with the “30 Rockers,” with fellow NBC employees, will do.

Media relations and fake news

At a time where relations between media personnel and the presidential administration are tense, it’s important for journalists to challenge people in power, just as Murrow did, said Holt.

“With this adversary relationship between those in power and reporters...we need to hold people in power and hold them accountable,” said Holt. “This is the way it’s always been...maybe we just need to be a bit more vocal this time.”

Is it more difficult, asked Leows Hotel CEO Jonathan M. Tisch, to find the truth today, especially from the White House and “fake” news?

“Is truth dead?” he asked. “Do you see us, as a society, slipping away from what’s depending on what is real and truthful?

Fake news is so prominent in today’s culture, said Holt, and that’s unfortunate. People want to believe the worst, clinging to tabloids and gossip, he continued. And when the administration uses the term “fake news” for any unflattering story, it becomes hard to determine what is real.

“Truth is on the ropes, and it’s unfortunate and I don’t know how we turn that around,” said Holt. “You can’t put toothpaste back in the tube.”

In the age of social media, politicians should be held responsible for what they’re tweeting or posting, he continued. They must be accountable for what they’re talking about. Though Trump is especially active on Twitter, Holt said reporters had to closely follow and “hammer” the Obama administration, just like they are doing today.

A divided nation

When Tisch opened the discussion to a handful of questions from the audience, one Tufts student asked about the divide among people throughout the United States, particularly liberal versus conservative.

“Personally I often feel very detached from a large portion of the country,” he said. “How do we try to move forward and bridge some of the divides in our country?”

Though Holt said he couldn’t answer how to bring the country together, he did say people should step away from politics every so often.

“You can have dinner without bringing up Trump,” said Holt. “The day doesn’t start and end with politics.”

With such a wide range of media sources—blogs, podcasts, radio, TV, newspapers—we are constantly consuming information. It’s distressing, said Holt. We immerse ourselves in things we believe, in news with voices like ours.

Though everyone is biased, he said, people can think about their personal opinions and put them aside. As a professional, he said, he can keep his opinion from truly affecting his work.

“I’m biased. Let me tell you why,” said Holt. “I was born and raised in the US. I’m African American. I’m Christian. I’m straight. All of those things form my world view and some of those things you can’t escape....but I like to give and take and I like to hear different sides to an issue and leave myself open to change.”